JONES, et al. vs NOVA MANAGEMENT, INC., et al.

25CV008844: JONES, et al. vs NOVA MANAGEMENT, INC., et al. 07/31/2026 Hearing on Motion to be Relieved as Counsel in Department 8B

Tentative Ruling

Counsel Eugene Zinovyev and John Brown of the Wilshire Law Firm seek to be relieved as counsel for Plaintiff Lloyd Jones (“Plaintiff”). Counsel argues that “This motion is made per State Bar of California, Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.16 (b). Due to a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship, counsel is requesting that it be relieved from representing Mr. Lloyd Jones with respect to his individual claims, the putative class claims, and the claims of the aggrieved employees.” (Brown Decl., ¶ 2.)

Counsel attests that they served Plaintiff by mail at his last known address, return receipt requested. (Id., ¶¶ 3(a)(2), 3(b)(1)(a).) Counsel also attests that he has been unable to confirm that the address is current or to locate a more current address after mailing the moving papers to Plaintiff’s last known address, return receipt requested and conducting a skip trace. (Id., ¶¶ 3(b)(2)(a) and (d).) However, Counsel attests that he “has made reasonable efforts to contact Mr. Jones, including letters sent by mail and served personally to his last known address, e-mails, calls, and text messages” and that Counsel “[c]onducted a skip trace” such that the Court should grant the motion to be relieved even if Counsel “has been unable to serve the client with the moving papers.” (Id., ¶ 3(c).)

Counsel’s motion to be relieved is UNOPPOSED and GRANTED. The Court will sign the Order submitted with Counsel’s moving papers, correcting paragraphs 7 and 9.

To request oral argument on this matter, you must call Department 8B at (916) 874-5762 by 4:00 p.m., the court day before this hearing and notification of oral argument must be made to the opposing party/counsel. If no call is made, the tentative ruling becomes the order of the court. (Local Rule 1.06.)

Parties requesting services of a court reporter will need to arrange for private court reporter services at their own expense, pursuant to Government Code §68086 and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956. Requirements for requesting a court reporter are listed in the Policy for Official Reporter Pro Tempore available on the Sacramento Superior Court website. Parties may contact Court-Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore by utilizing the list of Court Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore.

If you are not using a reporter from the Court’s Approved Official Reporter Pro Tempore list, a Stipulation and Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore (CV/E-206) must be signed by each party, the private court reporter, and the Judge. The signed form must be filed with the clerk prior to the hearing.

If a litigant has been granted a fee waiver and requests a court reporter, the party must submit a Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver (CV/E-211). The form must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days prior to the hearing or at the time the hearing is scheduled if less

25CV008844: JONES, et al. vs NOVA MANAGEMENT, INC., et al. 07/31/2026 Hearing on Motion to be Relieved as Counsel in Department 8B

than 10 days away. Once approved, the clerk will forward the form to the Court Reporter’s Office and an official reporter will be provided.

If oral argument is requested, the Parties are encouraged to appear via Zoom with the links below:

To join by Zoom link - https://saccourt-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/16184738886 To join by phone dial (833) 568-8864 ID 16184738886

Moving Counsel is directed to notice all parties of this order.

Please note that the Complex Civil Case Department now provides information to assist you in managing your complex case on the Court website at https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/divisions/civil/complex-civil-cases. The Court strongly encourages parties to review this website regularly to stay abreast of the most recent complex civil case procedures. Please refer to the website before directly contacting the Court Clerk for information.